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Feb 27, 2013

Udderly Delightful!

     In case the title doesn't quite give it away, we are talking about goats.   My family has been enjoying and learning about goats for quite some time.  Well, lets be honest, I do the enjoying, and they do the learning, ha ha.  First let me start off by introducing you to a couple of my girls:


     Left is Cocoa, a Nigerian Dwarf/Nubian cross.  She is not quite a year yet, and I hope she's expecting. Then my big white girl, Zeba, a 4th generation Mini-Mancha (Nigerian Dwarf crossed with LaMancha) she is about 3 years old, and the best milker I've ever had.  She's mild tempered, and quite friendly.  And then just barely you can see the eyes of Sugar poking out behind her.  She is Cocoa's sister but is pure white, and I hope she is expecting as well.    They have all been exposed to this handsome fella:


     This is Rocky.  Up until recently he was our resident stud man.  He's a purebred, registered Tri-color Nigerian Dwarf.   And I soooo hope we get some of his babies.   He was so active his first year that we had to get rid of him because he started stinking at a very young age.  I wasn't planning on keeping him forever, but we did bottle feed him from a baby, so he was a doll.
     I had always wanted to have milk goats.  And at first it started because we had 2 kids allergic to milk as babies and I had read that most people with milk allergies can tolerate goats milk because it has smaller proteins and is easier to digest, among about a million other reasons.   We bought our first milker in about 2004 or so and discovered after having her home less than an hour, that our yard and fencing wasn't sufficient to keep her.  She ran away twice that afternoon and so we had to tie her to a tree.
     I really didn't have the heart to keep an animal tied up, so the previous owner was gracious enough to take her back.   After that we tried a couple of Pigmy goats and a Nigerian dwarf.  The pigmy's weren't bottle raised and wouldn't have anything to do with us, so really we didn't get to enjoy them much.   We had to sell our animals when we moved so we went about 4-5 years before having them again.
    About 4 years ago I decided to try again.  A friend was moving and had to sell her milker and a Yearling.  And this time we had bought property with a barn and corrals so we were sufficiently set up to care for them.  We all really enjoyed it at first, but sadly my kids have mostly lost interest except for one.  But he is a trooper and milks every day, twice a day for me, and I really think he doesn't mind except for occasionally when other activities interfere and cause him to have to go out at late at night when its dark and snowing to take care of the milking.
   When we bred our yearling, Lucy and taught her to milk it had to be one of the most horrific experiences (for both her and us).  I'm not sure how we all made it out alive.  Likely quite comical for any passers by.  But she was so stubborn, she'd do a double back kick on the milk stand trying to clear the room of any potential milkers.   It took 3 of us at first to get her milked.  2 to hold each of her back legs, and one person to milk.  (Below is Lucy in front with her 2 babies behind, followed by PattyCake)

She was a full size dairy goat, a Saanen, and it was all we could do to keep her under control.  She eventually settled down, and by the next year was a very well behaved milker, as long as you didn't dawdle.

  I really enjoyed our other Saanen, Patty-Cake, she was 10 years old or more, and very mellow and well behaved.  Not to mention too fat to cause any real trouble, ha ha!  And did I mention the VERY best thing about goats?  BABY goats!  :-)  Here is PattyCake with our very fist babies!  Oh how we loved them!

   


We eventually sold our Saanens to try some smaller goats. 
 (The first ones pictured at the top.)

Hopefully you enjoyed your introduction to my herd, I will do several follow up posts on milking, the benefits of goat milk, and more!  I am more of a fair weather milker, just ask my boys, so once it warms up you will see alot more of what goes on around here. 
Check back again soon, and thanks for reading!


Feb 22, 2013

Pruning Trees to Grow Low and Produce More Fruit

Fruit trees are one of my passions.  It is the naturalist and the prepper in me that dreams about picking fruit off of my own trees, eating it, canning it, and baking with it.  We have moved a lot in our married life, and I have planted fruit trees in every house we have lived in, and never stayed long enough to eat the fruit.  :-(  Our first house I planted 2 apple trees, and we moved 2 years later.  Our next home I planted a couple more, and we moved again.  Our 3rd home I thought we would be there long term, so I planted 9 trees, all different varieties, and 3 years later, just before we moved, my Apricot tree fruited.  I was so excited, I watched every day, waiting for the perfect day to pick them.   One evening as I inspected the fruit and decided it was ready, I resolved to pick it in the morning because I heard that fruit picked in the morning is always sweeter.   The next morning I went out with bucket in hand only to find Apricot pits all over the ground, and my tree picked clean.   The deer had beaten me to it!
     Tree pruning is like an ancient art form.   The first few times I tried it, I really wasn't sure that I was doing it right, and I probably wasn't completely.  But each year was a little better, and this year it was almost intuitive.  I could "see" what needed to be done in a way I hadn't realized before.  I still have a lot to learn, but I think my trees are starting to shape up nicely, and I'm excited to see how they grow.  This year I took before and after photos for a couple reasons.  First of all so I can track my progress, and secondly so I can show you what I'm talking about when I give you some pointers.


     This is my Dwarf Cherry tree. This is the only one that I didn't take photos of from consistent angles, but its a small tree, so I think you can get the idea.  The most important thing with these smaller trees is to open them up and allow light an air to flow through even after the leaves come in. Sweet Cherry trees should be pruned to a Modified leader system.  This means that the trunk extends from the ground all the way up to the where the highest branch begins to deviate.
    There are two main systems for pruning trees, the Modified Leader, and the open center.  I have a few examples of both to help you see what that means.   Open Center refers to a tree whose trunk divides into 4-5 branches going out laterally at a couple feet above the ground.

     This is a peach tree, and Peach trees should be trained to the "open center" system.  If you can see, I opened this tree up quite a bit, as well as "topped" the tree to maintain a low growing tree that will branch out laterally.   To encourage outward growth rather than upward, you follow a branch that is heading up and when it splits or a new branch is growing off of it, you cut off the original branch just beyond the new branch.  The tree will then focus its efforts on this newer portion as it is now all that is left on the end of this branch.  Click on each photo and view it larger so you can study the differences and try to understand how and why I pruned the way I did.

This is a 2nd year Nectarine tree, which I did some minimal pruning on to stimulate growth.  And actually I think that one coming straight off the top should go too.  Sometimes its a process, and when you step back and just look at your trees for a bit, its easier to get the whole picture.  When you are just doing minimal pruning, you want to take 1/3 of the total length off of branches that were last years growth.  This stimulates the tree to grow and produce more branches.                                                 
This is my Fuji apple tree.  It is in about its 5th year, and finally produced a few apples last year.  Not sure why its been struggling, but I think it is going to be great this year.  That is IF it produces.  Some apple trees only produce every other year.  As you can see, this one has some fun, funky growth patterns which I rather like, and am trying to encourage.  Mainly I opened this tree up, and topped several branches.  Also I directed some of the branches in the back to grow sideways as the neighbor has expressed that he'd prefer I don't let the tree grow over onto his side of the fence.   Even though you can't tell, there is plenty of room for this tree to grow without crossing the fence line, so I am trying to be a good neighbor and train it to grow wide rather than deep.  See the one branch jutting off to the right?   I could even support and stake that at some point if I wanted to continue the growth on that.  Also that one growing downward on the left should really be cut off, but I like it, so I'm going to watch it and see how it does.  This is another good one to zoom in on for detail.
     I got a lot of good information on tree pruning from my county extension office.   I found a great PDF file with pictures and step by step instructions, and upon searching for it again, I found it is still there, so here is a link to it:  "Pruning the Orchard"  It has a lot of good information, but the picture of their before and after samples are really hard to see so I have posted my own here.   There are some good diagrams of different parts of the tree and what to prune as well.



     The other thing I wanted to touch on quickly is spacing of branches.   Often a tree will develop a very "upward" growing pattern.  I have found this to be especially true with Apple Trees.  So it is important to insert "spacers" between branches and encourage them to spread out a bit.   Some trees are more fragile than others and occasionally in the effort to expand the space, I have broken the branch, so be very careful here.  If you look closely, to the right,  this is another apple tree, and I have
pruned it to the central leader system, and added a few branch spreaders, but I think only one is blatantly visible here.   If you look closely at the unpruned tree on the left, you can see the shape of the branch before pruning and spreading.  This is a gentle distance so as not to break the branch, but it will encourage a more lateral growth pattern.   Also the end of this branch should get some new branches this spring, and I will choose one of them next year to train outward as well.  Making the tree wider and wider each year, and trying to control the heigth.   To create a branch spreader, I simply use one of the pieces I have pruned off of the tree.  Often it is possible to find one with a "y" shape on the end that will keep it in place better.  And the pressure caused in spreading also holds the stick in place.  I rarely have them fall out, and in some cases I have to actually remove them because they were on too long.


As you can see there are two spreaders in this photo, one is circled and the other has an arrow.  The one in the back is harder to see but it is pushing that skinny twig branch out and away from the tree so it doesn't crowd the middle and prevent light and air from getting all through the tree.   It has been said that you should prune a tree so that birds can fly through.  And with an Apple tree you should have enough room to throw cats through it.  :-)  I think we could fit a cat or two!   Happy Pruning, and remember, its an art!  Enjoy it!

Feb 20, 2013

A Whole New OLD Way to Look at Gardening

     I recently came across an amazing film that changed everything I thought I knew about gardening, and plants.  It is well done, professionally filmed, and it has the potential to change your life.  There are several key concepts introduced here that when applied even to the simplest backyard gardens, have immediate and long lasting results.
    This is a full length film so plan sufficient time to watch it, or you can watch it in sections as it is easily set up to do it that way.
Click on photo, then scroll down to find video
     Even in my own backyard garden, I have been able to start applying some of these principles, and in the first year that I have used them, I can see some HUGE improvements and positive changes in my yard, my dirt, my plants and my crop. This years gardening should be even easier because of what I have put in place last year.
     I love the main idea of the film which is that God is the great Master Gardener, and by observing what we see in nature and learning from it, we can assist him in creating something beautiful in our own yards.  Each concept is laid out and explained in such a way that it makes amazing sense.
     I would also recommend purchasing the DVD if nothing else, just to support this great effort.
   

Feb 19, 2013

Coconut Oil


     You may have noticed that in the few recipes that I've put up so far I have Coconut as my oil of choice.  I use it for pretty much everything.  We fry our eggs, potatoes and other veggies in it, and I substitute it for butter, shortening, or oil in most recipes for cakes, cookies and breads.  We also rub it into our dry skin, cuts, abrasions, and more.  I do occasionally choose a 1/2 butter 1/2 coconut oil mix for some recipes just to get some of that butter flavor and consistency.
      Because of its many uses and the fact that it is not affected by heat, it is also my oil of choice for long term storage.  Coconut oil is basically a solid at any temperature from 75º F and below. Above that temperature it melts and becomes liquid.  It is much like shortening in consistency at the mid temperatures, and hardens the cooler it becomes.   I keep mine in a 1 qt crock near the stove so that in the winter, I can warm and melt the oil before using it in recipes.  To fry an egg, I simply spoon the hardened oil into the hot pan and it melts quickly.
     Coconut oil is a highly saturated fat.  But it is a healthy fat, similar to that of an Avocado.  The health benefits of coconut oil range from hair care, skin care, boosting the immune system, assisting proper digestion, increases metabolism and more.  Many of the benefits are attributed to the high Lauric acid content of the oil which properties include antimicrobial, antioxidants, anti-fungal and antibacterial.
     Coconut oil is also helpful when trying to lose weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in reducing excessive weight.  It is also easy to digest and helps increase healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on the pancrease, and burning more calories.  --When I was on the HCG diet a few years ago, I read about a special "treat" that diet participants could use to boost weight loss.   You simply mix 1C. powdered cocoa, 1 C. Coconut Oil, melted, 8 packages Stevia or some Agave Nectar (P3 Only) and combine until well blended, then you can have 1-2 T. of it per day.  And it actually increased the weight loss because it was giving the body a tool for increasing metabolism as well as giving needed nutrients.
     Coconut oil has been said to help dissolve kidney stones, support the liver, kidneys and gallbladder, and even treat Pancreatitis.  Coconut Oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and can help heal and soothe a sunburn.  Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.
   I have very dry skin, and I have found that if I  rub Coconut oil into my dry scalp at night before bed, and then wear a cloth cap or wrap my head in a towel, it relieves the dryness and itching.  In the morning I wash it out and enjoy the soothing effects for hours.   I have even used fractionated coconut oil as a base for several essential oils in creating a natural Lice Killer for a child who came home from school with head lice.  We used it once, and it worked amazingly.   It didn't spread to anyone else in the house, and we didn't have ongoing battles with it as many people do.   And I avoided using the harsh, dangerous chemicals available in the drugstore for battling head lice.

     Coconut Oil is also preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

   I'm sure the list goes on and on, but those are some of the most common uses.   I order it by the 5 Gallon pail from a very natural, organic, non GMO source --Tropical Traditions.  I order the flavorless coconut oil that has been steam distilled (Expeller pressed) because I believe it has all of the same benefits without affecting the flavor of my foods.  Also it is much less expensive even though it is produced in the same place and essentially the same way as their other products so I am confident I am getting a healthy clean oil.





Tropical Traditions Weekly Sales

And while I'm on the coconut bandwagon, I love to use Coconut flour in all my recipes as well.   I usually ad about 1/2 c. to most average size recipes as it increases the protein content by leaps and bounds.  It also ads a sweet subtle addition to the flavor of cookies and sweet breads.



If you order by clicking on any of my links, and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

Now just to cover my @$&  I need to say that these statements have not be evaulated by the FDA and that this information is not intended to be used as medical advice as the author is not a physician.  Elderberry has not been proven to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure any diseases or the above mentioned ailments.  Blah blah blah, yadda yadda... :-)

Feb 14, 2013

Elderberry.... Snake oil, or Cure all?

  
   Last year, i had a horrible case of Bronchitis, I was in bed for weeks, and ultimately sick for 6 months of the year with my Asthma, Allergies, and chronic bronchitis.  I was drinking green smoothies, and eating well as I always try to do, so I was frustrated and angry that I was so sick.
     One day a friend stopped by with a bottle of Sambucus (a blend made mostly of Elderberry and some raspberry and other things.)  I started taking it, and immediately I felt some improvements.  So I started dosing myself 5 times a day.  Within a few days I was well, so I quit taking it.   I got sick again within a week, so I started taking it again, and again I was well in about 3 days.  This time I was smart enough to realize what had helped and I continued taking low doses for several months afterwards.

     I had never had Asthma growing up, I did have allergies, but never to the point that I couldn't breathe.  They'd get pretty miserable in the spring for a couple weeks and then I was ok.  Since moving to the specific part of Utah that I now live in, I have had problem after problem, and was diagnosed about 4 years ago with allergy induced asthma.  It got so bad initially that I had to take steroids in order to breathe.  And as you get to know me, you will know that I was incredibly angry about having to be dependent on drugs.  I don't do drugs!  I have spent years researching and learning and teaching myself and others how to take care of normal everyday ailments without drugs.  I don't run my kids to the Dr. every time they have a sniffle.  In fact I rarely ever take them unless they break a bone or need stitches.  Pretty much everything else I can handle.   My youngest child has never been on an Antibiotic and is almost 10.
     Back to the story... I started researching Sambucus (which is actually the name of a variety of Elderberry, Sambucus Negra) and this is what I found out:
     Elderberry is a powerful antioxidant, it lowers cholesterol, improves vision, boosts the immune system, and improves heart health.  It is a fantastic remedy for Asthma, Allergies, Coughs, Colds, Flu, Bacterial and Viral infections and Tonsillitis because it specifically supports a healthy respiratory system.  It can alleviate chest congestion, and  also works to fight Strep Throat.  Elderberries have been used as an ancient remedy for centuries in North America, Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa
     Elderberry  has Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice that destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell.  People with the flu who took elderberry juice reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not.
     Elderberries contain organic pigments, tannin, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, sugar, rutin, viburnic acid, vitaman A and B and a large amount of vitamin C. They are also mildly laxative, a diuretic, and diaphoretic. Flavonoids, including quercetin, are believed to account for the therapeutic actions of the elderberry flowers and berries. According to test tube studies2 these flavonoids include anthocyanins that are powerful antioxidants and protect cells against damage.
   Elderberries were listed in the CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs as early as 1985, and are listed in the 2000 Mosby's Nursing Drug reference for colds, flu, yeast infections, nasal and chest congestion, and hay fever.  (Above info gathered from herbwisdom.com/herb-elderberry.html)
     Also, for those who have Elderberry growing in your yard, keep in mind that most sites will tell you that Elderberries are only edible after cooking.  They have some traces of Cyanide in the berry that is realeased upon digestion or cooking.  So if you cook first, you only get the health benefits of the berry.  Here is an interesting resource for making Elderberry wine.

     Back to the story:  I took a prescription strength allergy pill for over 3 years straight just so I could keep my airways open.  But the goal all along was to get OFF the drugs.  It is now pre-spring here in the valley, and I have felt little bugs in my throat on occasion, or a shortness of breath indicating the possibility of an oncoming Asthma attack, but I just double up on my Elderberry, and it never progresses any further.  (No allergy pill in over 6 months!) This season will be the true test, but I am confident that if I actually remember to take it often, I will make it through the season with my lungs at full function.   Now obviously you have to be smart about your health.  When pollen is at the worst, I can't just go rubbing my face in the grass, and sleeping outside under the stars.  But I think I can do normal activities if I keep this stuff in me.  I'll report back in a few months!

And just for resource, I prefer to use the Elderberry from "Natural Sources" which I purchase online at Vitacost.com as they have the best price.  Click on the image to go there and view the current pricing details.


Click Here to purchase
 

Now just to cover my @$&  I need to say that these statements have not be evaulated by the FDA and that this information is not intended to be used as medical advice as the author is not a physician.  Elderberry has not been proven to treat, diagnose or cure any of the above mentioned ailments.  Blah blah blah, yadda yadda... :-)


Feb 11, 2013

Light, fluffy, Whole Wheat Quick Bread



10 1/2 c. Whole Wheat flour
1 T. Dough Enhancer
1/2 c. raw sugar or honey
1 Cup Applesauce
1 T. salt
3 T. SAF Instant Yeast
1/3 Cup + 1T. Coconut Oil
3.5 Cups hot water




I always use fresh ground flour.  I have a Nutrimill wheat grinder which is a dream.  So before starting the recipe I grind my flour fresh.











I used a Bosch Mixer which makes this recipe pretty much a no-knead recipe, because the machine does all the work for you.
(See video clips at the bottom of this post.)





Add 8 Cups of the flour and the rest of the dry ingredients, including sugar (but not honey) to the mixer first, and pulse to blend.
Pour the water in a large liquid measuring cup, and then add oil to the water.  pour in over dry ingredients and ad honey (If your using it) and Applesauce.

Replace splash ring on bosch and turn on to speed one until ingredients are basically blended.  You want to keep adding flour slowly until the dough starts to clean the sides of the bowl, as well as pull away in the center.  You may or may not use all of the flour.  This is where the trick comes in.  You need to have an "eye" for what the right amount of flour is.  I have included a couple of videos to help you with this part.  The dough will still look fairly sticky.

Once the dough starts to pull away, then you start your timer for kneading.  Approx 6-7 minutes on speed 2.  Do the check for Gluten development (see video tutorial)

Wipe down counter and pans with coconut oil.   Dump dough out onto greased counter and shape loaves, place in pans and cover with a dish towel.





Let rise 30-45 minutes until bread has risen above the edges of the pan. Warning:  Do not over rise, or bread may fall.   If it does fall, remove the dough, knead breifly, reshape and let rise again. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until deep golden brown.    Makes 3-4 loaves depending on the size of the pan.



Now I was thinking too that I'd like to have a bit higher loaf.  This bread was light and fluffy, and did rise sufficiently, but if I divide the dough into thirds instead of fourths I would have a bit larger loaf that would be better for Sandwiches.  So I will do that next time and ad the photos.

Also I am including some clips of different stages of the dough so you can tell what its supposed to look like.  The first clip is where the dough starts pulling away from the sides.  Second I show you how to check for a "dough window" to be sure the gluten is developed enough.

 

Feb 10, 2013

Basic Green Smoothie Recipe

Green Smoothies have been a huge "trend" in the health movements as of late, and really with good reason.   The American diet leaves a lot to be desired with all of our pre-packaged, convenience foods and high paced lifestyles.  We simply don't get the servings of fruits and vegetables that we need to maintain optimum health.


Put approx 2 1/2-3 cups filtered water in t your Vita Mix (or other HIGH SPEED blender)
2-3 T. Honey
Juice from 1/2 lime
Start adding fresh washed, organic greens, such as spinach, chard,  & kale.
You ad greens and blend until the volume reaches  5 1⁄2 cup line:
Puree greens mixture until very smooth.
Gradually add fruit until the container is very full, blend again until smooth:
1-2 frozen bananas
1-2 cups frozen mixed berries any other fruit to taste







You can also ad in any number of mix ins based on your tastes, preferences, and possible specific health needs:
1T.  Spirulina
2T. Protein Powder  (I prefer Sunwarrior)
2T. Dr. Schulze Super Food or other Greens powder when fresh greens are limited   
2T. Flax Seeds or Flax oil

 (Left:  Green Smoothie Bouquet)


 BENEFITS OF GREEN SMOOTHIES:
As fantastic as raw greens are, we would have to chew for a very long time with each bite to get them to the creamy consistency necessary to take advantage of all the nutrition they hold. That's because nutrition lies within the plant's cell walls and plant cell walls are one of the strongest things in nature.

That’s where the green smoothie comes in...You won't, or can't, take the time to chew those green enough and it's hard to eat a bunch of kale for a meal. Making green smoothies enables you to consume more greens and allows your body to use the nutrients within them. High speed blenders, such as a Blendtec Total blender or Vitamix 5200, are great green smoothie blenders as they break down whole foods to the cellular level and beyond, making the bounty of nutrients readily available for your body.

If budget is too tight for this, I have found that “Back to Basics” regular blender, AND Ninja blenders... do better than other inexpensive or low speed blenders.
"Okay." ... you say. "So how good for me are they?" ... you ask...
Green smoothies have significant amounts of:
* protein * calcium * folate * iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper * vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A * vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6 * vitamin E * omega 3 fatty acids * potassium * tryptophan * dietary fiber * and more

Best of all these things are delivered to us in green smoothies as natural whole foods via the closest source to the life giving sun and they are never pasteurized.
Green Smoothies DO NOT have:
cholesterol, saturated fat, hydrogenated oils (trans-fats), MSG, GMOs, added hormones, antibiotics, artificial color, artificial flavor, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, nor refined sugar.
Green Smoothies are in NOT associated or linked with disease such as cancer, heart disease, anemia, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, arthritis, constipation, gallstones, indigestion, stroke, varicose veins nor piles.
Drinking green smoothies helps the body to prevent and heal disease such as those listed above and more.
People who have added green smoothies as a regular part of their "normal" diet report having:
* more energy * less body aches and pain * normalized blood sugar * reduced or "cured" insomnia * increased libido * clearer thought * better vision * regular bowel movements * less acne * less illness * easy weight loss * reduce bad food cravings * balanced body PH * reduced craving for coffee and caffeine ... and the positive benefits goes on.
The smoothies you make are never pasteurized!
Why is that a big deal? Because pasteurization is a high temperature process that destroys living enzymes and nutrients. So while you think that expensive, fancy bottled smoothie you bought at the store is sooooo good for you... the fact is, it is nowhere near as good for you as it could be.
Different greens have a different level of flavor. If you are new to making green smoothies then stick with the milder flavored greens like spinach, chard or romaine. Moderately flavored greens include kale, swiss chard and collard. More strongly flavored greens include dandelion, mustard- greens, beet-greens, etc...

The above taken from: http://gotgreensrevolution.com/green-smoothie.html For detailed info on specific greens: http://gotgreensrevolution.com/greens-guide.html

Books to read:
“Green for life” Victoria Boutenko;
“The Green Smoothies Diet Book” Robyn Openshaw.

Feb 6, 2013

Time to start planting your SEEDS!

     Its almost that time!   One of my Favorite times of the year!  (OK, so I have a lot of favorite times, spring chicks, fall harvest, etc. etc.)  I just ordered a few seeds to supplement my already overgrown stockpile of Organic Garden Seeds!  I started growing Organic, non-GMO or non-hybrid seeds several years ago as I began to learn the importance not only of eating non genetically modified foods, but also protecting the earth, environment, and even our future seed stock.
     As a prepper, its important to grow plants that seed can be harvested from, dried, stored properly and used again.   Most of the seeds available in stores are what is called "HYBRID."  Hybrid means that when you plant a seed harvested from the fruit of your hybrid crop, you will not get a plant that produces true to type.   Many of these seeds produce either weak plants with growing issues, and subject to diseases, or the plant is beautiful but won't produce a healthy fruit, if any fruit at all.
     You do have to know a few things to become a successful seed saver, but with a little trial and error most people can use their own garden seeds season after season.  We will get into seed saving later on, but today I want to talk to you about planning your garden, and getting your seeds ready.

Shelley's 6 rules of Gardening:
          1 - Plant what you will eat.
          2 - Choose non-hybrid, non-GMO seeds.
          3 - Start your seeds as naturally as possible
          4-  Compost your beds, learn to use a compost pile
          5 - Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!
          6 - Experiment with different Methods, and HAVE FUN!

We are going to go over the first several points today, and then I will address the other ones individually with detailed posts and information.

Plant what you will eat.
     This is more important than some of you may realize if you are a new gardener.  It is so easy to get excited and want to plant your whole yard, and do 50 of everything just so you can feel like you've accomplished something.   But at harvest time when you are bringing in buckets of food, 1/2 of which you don't even like, it can get stressful trying to use/ give away so much food.   If eggplants gross you out, or you don't' like hot peppers, DON'T GROW THEM!
     Think about what your family eats and uses on a regular basis and start with that.   For us it is Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Melons, and a few other odds and ends.  And yes, we do like Eggplant.   I'll post my Ratatouille recipe later on in the year closer to harvest time.   I also have a space for what I call my Green Smoothie Garden.   I grow Red Russian Kale, Lacinto Kale, blue Kale, and 2 varieties of Swiss Chard.   Then I go out with my Scissors every morning and chop a bunch of leaves for my smoothie!   I am soooo missing that right now!   My GS Garden was producing right up until about  a month ago when all these heavy snows hit!

Choose non-hybrid, non GMO seeds
     We talked about this a little bit already, but your probably wondering how to tell the difference between hybrid and non hybrid seeds if its not obvious.   Some of the tell tale signs of a hybrid seed, are that usually they will have a # in the title next to the item.   ie: F1 tomato, or FL0504 Hot Pepper seeds, etc.   Not always, but if it does, its definitely a hybrid.   Also if they say they are resistant to some disease or high heat, they are usually hybrid.   The verbage is critical.  Because the word "tolerant" for example is not generally used for hybrids.   So if something is drought tolerant, or tolerates drought, that is likely an indication of the plants natural properties.

Ok, so where do I find non-Gmo seeds?
     There are several online seed companies that offer quality seeds.   I will list a few of my favorites here:
               BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEEDS

               VICTORY SEEDS

And there is also several options on Etsy.com, but this one is my favorite:

                CUBITS

And for PREPPERS, you'll like these storeable "Garden in a Can" options:

              GARDEN IN A CAN

              HEIRLOOM ORGANICS - SEED VAULT

 I planted Sunflowers in front of the Chicken coop to help block out the mess.
Start your seeds as naturally as possible
     So what exactly do I mean by that?   Learn about each type of seed, and figure out how it grows best and in what conditions.   If those conditions exist naturally where you live, there is no need to go to extra trouble getting your seed to grow.   Many nurseries sell some of the most ridiculous seedlings I've ever seen, and i have to admit early in my gardening career, I fell prey.   For example, why would somebody buy started corn plants?   In most parts of the country, you can practically drop corn seed on the ground, and it will grow.   Just know when its safe to drop it, and your all good.   With corn, you have to  make sure the ground is warm enough (about 70) and it will germinate no problem.
     Cucumbers and Melons are often started indoors, but if you live in an area that has nice hot summers, you can drop seed in the ground in July and have a bigger cucumber than the nursery plant you bought and planted in May.   So when I say start as naturally as possible, I mean KNOW your seeds, and your weather, and plant accordingly so you don't waste seeds.
     I start most of my plants indoors (except corn, ha ha), OR I use those green "Wall of Water" cones to start some directly in the garden much sooner than I normally could.  We have long winters, and a good chance of at least one late freeze every spring, so its generally not safe to set plants out into the garden until mid-may, and this year I'm thinking more like first of june.   But alot of expert gardeners around here do start seeds directly in the garden and try to protect them.  
     Depending on the type of seed, I have few methods.  For any of my "greens" that i want to start ahead, I usually get a foil tin from the dollar store with a lid, fill with organic seed starter (That I have pre-moistened) from the nursery or hardware store,  and try to systematically sprinkle the seeds over the top.  Not too many, but quite a few.  Then I get some more seed starter, and lightly sprinkle just a bit over the seeds.   If your doing it in your house in a sunny window, Use the lid.  However in a greenhouse, I learned the hard way, it gets way too hot in that little container when the sun comes out in the afternoon, and I fried my seeds.  So if starting in a greenhouse that is somewhat climate controlled, I wouldn't recommend using the lid.
I like to do a more of a mixed use garden so that its pretty as well as edible.  Too bad I hadn't removed the old supports for the winter garden extender we put up in the fall.  It obviously did not hold up well.
     For Tomatoes and other Vegetables, I like to use Coconut Fiber Pellets.  Really, just because I am somewhat lazy.   Its a heck of a lot of work to fill seed trays with dirt, and tap down each little section.  I prefer to just add water, and let the "pot" or in this case pellet, prep itself.  Then I just use the handle of a plastic spoon to make my little holes to deposit seeds in.   I will do another post with pictures and details as soon as I get MY seeds planted here in the next week or two.   I don't have a specific date I do it, it just goes on the to-do list for February, and when I feel ready to do it, I go for it!   I need to tidy up my greenhouse first and make a place for all these seed flats.  

Also as a resource, I want to point you to a site about winter sowing seeds.  Its not too late to start your seeds this way, and when I tried it, it worked out great.   Especially for flowers.
The idea is to sow your seeds inside mini greenhouses made of milk jugs or other plastic containers.  You water them, and seal them, with the exception of a few small holes for ventilation, and then set them outside.   The seeds are more protected than they would be in the garden, but they also are in the natural temperature so you don't have to harden them off when they sprout.   Go check out this site for a great description with photos:

WINTER SOWING

Stay tuned for posts on each one of my other 3 rules individually!  Composting, Mulching, & Garden Methods.  Please be sure to subscribe via email, rss, or facebook, up on the right hand corner.  
Post your comments and feedback below!







Feb 5, 2013

Zaycon Chicken Event

Interested in quality Meats, bulk buys on honey, fruit, and other great food? 
Check out Zaycon foods Bulk Savings events. 
Nationwide Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Event.
 (Except Alaska & Hawaii) 
• 100 % natural chicken with no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients 
• Comes directly from the processor and has never been frozen 
• Sold by the case — 40 lbs in each case.

 They are also offering Ham and Sausage, Alaskan Salmon and more at 
drop locations all over the country. 
Available for ordering NOW in: TN, NC, GA, SC, FL, AL, MS, VA, OH, KY, IN, IL, MI, KS, MO, OK, AR, LA, TX, AZ, CA, WI, NV, WY, IA, WA, OR, NE, ID, WV, UT, MN & CO.


Go to the website for more details.   My mom won't eat any other Chicken except for theirs.   Short of raising it in the backyard, this is the next best thing.





Feb 4, 2013

A surprise for me!

 I got a fun new surprise today!   Hubby was over at his parents helping out with some stuff around the house, and his mom sent him home with this!   FOR ME!  :-)

I didn't even know there was a NEW Magic Bullet! (Actually called the Nutribullet) Its hard to tell in this photo but the cups and ring size are quite a bit bigger than the original Magic bullet.   Not that this alone would be a selling point, but I have had the MB for quite a while and it is usually too small for what i want to do, leading me to overfill it and cause a mess.   So This morning I got it out to try it and filled it with fresh goat milk from the farm, added some frozen strawberries and about a tablespoon of Agave.   Yumminess!  

It works great too!  When I first opened the ring the smoothie was almost as thick as Ice cream.   I was surprised because the old MB would not have been able to do anything with that.  I would have had big chunks of unblended strawberry.  This whizzed it all up in a jiff!  I added a bit more milk and started it again, to get the perfect consistency.
 
Boxed up the old MB and all 97 accessories that go with it. (Seriously cleaned out two shelves in my kitchen - I actually have two complete sets, ask me why.   No idea.)  Will be selling it on the local online classifieds to recover some cash for something else.  Love to do that.

THANKS MOM!


P.S.  I took my magic bullet to Ireland last year because I was determined to make my green smoothies EVERY day!  On the right, there I am (in my hotel room) with fresh Kale from a local market packing it into my green MB.   It tasted pretty gritty, ick!  But I still drank it every day.  Will be interesting to see if this new one can break up the greens like my VitaMix.   Stay tuned!


Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System

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